Pad Yatra and Dandvat Yatra by Sadhus, Sarangpur, India

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To commemorate the 150th birth-anniversary of Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj, sadhus performed a 36 kilometer long padyatra (pilgrimage by foot) and a dandvat-yatra (pilgrimage by dandvats) from the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Gadhada, to Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj’s memorial shrine (Yagnapurush Smruti Mandir) in Sarangpur.

The padyatra was performed on 15th November by 185 sadhus, parshads and sadhaks.

The Dandvat-yatra started at 8.00 a.m. on 16th November from Gadhada, in which 62 sadhus, parshads and sadhaks offered their devotion. All young and old pilgrims travelled the distance by performing a total of 23,800 dandvats with enthusiasm and neglecting physical hardships such as heat, rain and rough roads. Amongst these, 3 pilgrims observed waterless fast (nirjala upavas), 3 pilgrims did not take any solid food and 6 pilgrims travelled barefoot. On route, devotees of Ugamedi, Ningala, Pati, Tajpur and Lathidad cleaned the roads and made necessary arrangements for all pilgrims. Devotees and others were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm, devotion and austerities of these pilgrims. The group was welcomed to Sarangpur at 8:30 p.m. Pramukh Swami Maharaj observed the pilgrims do dandvats as they approached at the end of the yatra. Pujya Swayamprakash Swami (Pujya Doctor Swami) and Pujya Viveksagar Swami mentioned that ‘this has been the first ever dandvat-yatra performed by sadhus in the history of BAPS.’

Swamishri showered his blessings on all pilgrims by raising both hands, waving a chhadi and giving prasad.

The pilgrims pledged all the merits of both the yatras for the good health and long life of Guruhari Pramukh Swami Maharaj.